THOUSANDS of Midland families could see their holiday plans disrupted after a major airline flying from Birmingham Airport was threatened with a “crippling” strike at the height of the summer.

More than 600 Monarch cabin-crew workers are to be balloted in July by the civil aviation union, Unite.

The dispute over pay could see staff walk out at Birmingham and other sites across the country, including Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, Luton and Dublin. Unite’s national officer for aviation, Brian Boyd, said: “Monarch faces the prospect of a crippling strike at the height of the holiday season.”

The union wants the airline to pay a lump sum to its members instead of giving them a pay rise, which it said they were prepared to defer until next year.

It also wants the airline to pay cabin crew an extra allowance while they are in the air, similar to one currently paid to pilots.

Mr Boyd said: “The requests are reasonable and in line with similar negotiations with other industry operators.

“They represent a practical compromise, given the prevailing circumstances. Unite is urging Monarch to come back to the negotiating table and work with us to avert damaging industrial action.

“There is no doubt the aviation sector is experiencing difficult times, all the more reason for Monarch to work with Unite to find a practical solution to this dispute.”

A spokesman for the company said: “Given the prevailing economic situation and its impact on the aviation industry, pay increases and additional benefits are unachievable at the present time.

“Monarch senior management continues to work with the cabin crew trade union to resolve this matter as quickly as possible.”